The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-06-25
a Runaway Train.

lneTe IL STORY In tne June w tut
A,cdke of boy, the l5-year-old son of
a locomotive engineer, who had often
ridden with his father and "knew the
engine pooty we'll. Indeed the en-
gineer had frequently let the boy
"driye" on long stretch of straight
track.
One night he left "Dave" in charge
OF the engine on siding, while he
went TO supper as usual. There came
up furious wind, and, after a litise,
some cars shot by without an engine.
The wind had started them. Boy,
think quick! Down grale The light
ming express is TO come that way.
Nobody near. No telegraph wire.
The trains are headed together. There
is less than an hour to catch those
runaway ears and pull them out of the
way. No time for hesitations He
springs To the lever, picks up speed,
and tears away with grade and wind
and steam like whizzing arrow.
They are miles ahead. The rushing
minutes are full OF sudden comprehen-
sion. He almost sees through the
dark, tempestous night. What set him
flying toward this plunge was thought
OF the lightning express. Now danger
takes hold OF him. What If he is just
too latel The runaway train is in
sight! OF steaml No, on again! Let
the siory-teller tell the rest.
He must slow mp, but do IL so nicely
that, when he does come up with them,
there shall be the least possible shock;
for here is the hardest part of the
business. He has nobody 10 help him
couple. He must be for the nonce,
both engineer and switchman. He had
not thought what "a formidable job
this was until IL stared him in the
face.
On he flew. revolving the situation
la his head and ad Justing his engine
with the incest care, until he was upon
the very heels OF the runaway; then,
with many misgyings, slipped out OF
the engine-house and crawled along
the side of the locomotive ana down
on the ''cow- catcher.
Here, seizng the long coupler in one
hand and holding on with the other.
he stood watching GREATNESS interest
the approaching collision. The sus-
pense was agonizing The situation
was perilous. A gust OF wind might
sweep him from his place; he might
be shaken of or crushed.
He was almost panic stricken. A
dozen times he was at the point of
turning back. To his startled ears
the air was full OF uncanny sounds
the sweep OF another tornado. the rush
OF the Lightning" just ahead, but he
had in hini the stuff heroes are made
Of. The hero. remember is not ne who
is inscnsible TO danger, but rather he
who feels and realizes, but yet over
comes IT,
The "Meteor" drew nearer aud
nearer the lying train. Dave had
used excellent Judgment IN regulating
It's speed; for at length IL came up
with the rear car with scarcely a shock,
so that Dave could reach over and
drop in the pin.
Then clamberlng back into the en-.
gine house with trembling eagerness
he seized the throttle. To his amaze
ment the train did not stop. Instead
of the "Meteors" stopping the runa-
way, the runaway dragged the "Me.
tcor" along in its headl ong flight.
Dave was horror struck. He had
thought the train would stop ut once.
lie had not calculated what tremen-
dous impetus all those heavy ears had
acquired.
Now, then, the tusslel The train
began TO slow up. IL came 10 a stand
still. Then the backward pull. Slowly
they got under way; but the wind and
p-grade were against them.
Dave began 10 be anxious. "The
Lightning" must be due by this time
lie kept sharp lookout behind and.
whistled like mad around the curves.
AT length she entered upon the clear
straight level line OF road which cx-
tended clear TO Dlankton. Dave
breathed freer. IL was the home
stretch good ten mile run.
Hardly had he congratulated himself,